London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

Things to do in London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

One of London’s premier jewelers, Links of London was founded in 1990 and specializes in men’s and women’s sterling silver and 18-carat gold jewelry. Designs range from pendant necklaces and colorful charms for women to bold cufflinks and watches for men.

The Heathrow outposts of this popular London healthcare emporium are designed to cater to the specific needs of air travelers. Busy airport denizens can stop in at Boots and find everything from medicines to cosmetics to fragrances.

Stop here to stock up on Ted Baker’s witty men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, footwear, and fragrances. Countryside scenes and handblown glass birds in antique cages adorn the first of his airport boutiques (designed by Baker himself), in T5.

British Airways commissioned site-specific, technologically enhanced pieces from Oona Culley, Troika, and other contemporary British artists for its new T5 Galleries lounges, open only to British Airways passengers.

During the recent construction of Terminal 5, a team of 80 archaeologists scoured approximately 250 acres around Heathrow—the U.K.’s largest single-site dig—and excavated more than 80,000 artifacts dating back to the Mesolithic Age (circa 6000 B.C.).

Need some fresh air? The airport has 10 nature preserves on the premises—the bulk of which are grasslands where ecologists are engendering wildflower species. Of the six natural areas open to the public, the Two Bridges Farm site is the most accessible.

Each of Heathrow’s terminals has a Harrods outlet, but only in T5 can you find 11,000 square feet of travel-related merchandise and clothing, including men’s and women’s clothing from the likes of Hugo Boss and Alexander McQueen, as well as sundry biscuits, teas, and other gift-able foodstuffs.

The iconic British handbag label recently opened two concept shops at Heathrow (in addition to its more traditional locations in T1, T3, and T4) that uniquely showcase its beloved natural leather bags, luggage, and accessories.